From Best Loved Fairy Tales Published in 1999
Best Loved Fairy Tales is a collection of stories that I have had since I was a child. There is no author from what I can tell and while these tales have similar themes to the more popular stories, they are not normally the stories you would think of when you consider fairy tales.
For example, there is no Little Mermaid but there is a Lonely Mermaid. Fairy Tales are changed and updated so often that reiterations and spin offs happen all the time. It is just a cute book full of easy to read tales.
…And also, no one gets brutally murdered. Looking at you Brothers Grimm.
Synopsis
There’s a granny… and she’s gonna cast a spell.
Susie is talking with her Granny and her grandmother says that she is a witch and one day she will prove it by casting a spell and having her knitting needles move all on their own. Susie is of course not entertaining Granny’s teasing.
One day, while playing in the garden, Susie spots a tiny man crying. He tells her that he is the tailor to the fairy princess and that an evil elf has turned all his fabric into bat wings. He now has no way of making a dress for the princess.
Susie offers to look into Granny’s sewing basket to see if she has anything that the tiny man can use. When she goes inside to check, Susie finds Granny sleeping but her needles are moving in her lap still working at her project.
Returning to the garden, she finds the tiny man has been supplied with brilliant gossamer fabric. The tailor is so grateful that he invites Susie to the May Ball as a thank you.
Later that night Susie lays in bed wishing that she could go to the ball but practically she is just too big to go to a fairy ball. But then, she hears Granny’s needles click click clicking away. Granny’s asks Susie what she wishes for and of course Susie wants to go to the ball.
Granny casts her spell once again and the little girl is shrunk down and sprouts wings.
The next morning she wakes up in her bed wondering if it was all a dream. Under her pillow is a sing piece of gossamer fabric.
My Thoughts
I would not trust a fairy. Traditionally, fairies love to play tricks on humans and have been known to never let them leave their realm. I was suspicious the entire story as I feared that the fairy was a malevolent creature trying to trick the little girl into helping him. But no, it was just a cute little story about a helpful girl being rewarded with a splendid adventure.
Lessons & Takeaways
Helping others is the right thing and good things will come to you if you do so. Susie went out of her way to solve the tiny tailor’s problem and in turn was invited to the ball. However, if a child sees a fairy in their garden crying, maybe let an adult know because as mentioned above they could have nefarious intentions.
Grandmas possess a wealth of wisdom, derived from their life experiences. While this wisdom may not manifest in magical ways, it often materializes in the form of valuable advice that we may not have considered otherwise.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to show kindness to your grandma, as she may harbor hidden talents. While the likelihood of her being a witch with the ability to transform you into a fairy is slim, cherishing the bond with your grandma is a magical experience in itself.
Remember, being helpful, respectful, and appreciative are qualities that can enrich relationships and lead to positive outcomes.
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